Circuit-breaking mechanism.



PATBNTED JULY 3, 1906. W. s. MAYER. 011101111" BREAKING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY17. 1905.

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WALTER S MAYER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO A. EDWARD NEWTON, OF DAYLESFORD,PENNSYLVANIA, AND WILLIAM lvl. SCOTT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CIRCUIT-BREAKING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 3, 1906.

Application filed May 17'. 1905- Serial No. 260,783.

$010M whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER S. MAYER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Circuit-Breaking Mechanism, of I which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electrical switches,

more especially automatic switches, commonly known as automatic circuit-breakers, whose purpose is to control or interrupt a circuit u )on the occurrence of predetermined electrical conditions in that or any other cir- Gull v More particularly my invention relates to the tripping mechanism of a plurality of circuit-breakers arranged in a gang or bank,

whereby the tripping of any one circuit breaker will cause the others to be tripped.

To this end Iprovide means whereby any one circuit-breaker may be triped by its own tripping mechanism and t 1e other circuitbreakers of the gang or bank tripped by energy derived from the opening movement of the circuit-breaker first tripped. In the case of automatic magnetic circuit-breakers such construction makes it unnecessary 'for the tripping-magnet to be sufiiciently powerful to actuate the tripping mechanisms of all the circuit-breakers. Each automatic magnetic circuit-breaker has a tripping-magnet of no greater power than would be required if the circuit-breakerwereindependentlyemployed. For an illustration of one of the numerous forms my invention may take reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical side elevation of a circuit-breaker of a gan or bank having the novel tripping mechanism applied thereto. Fig. 2 is an elevational view of one of the interconnected tripping-levers for operating the circuit-breaker latches. Fig. 3 is an end view of the same. Fig. 4 is a side view of the latch for restraining each circuit-breaker in normal position. Fig. 5 is an edgewise view of thesame. Fig. 6 is a front view of the ratchet or dog. Fig. 7 is an edgem'se view oi the same. Fig. 8 is an under side plan view of a bank of three circuit-breakers having my invention applied thereto.

which the movable contact member is a laminated bridging member operated by a toggle. This type of circuit-breaker is well, known in the art, and it is to be understood that my invention is not to be construed as limited to this type of circuit-breaker, for it is obvious to any one skilled in the art that-my invention may be applied to circuit-breakers of any type whatsoever. In said Fig. 1, 1 represents the base of insulating materialsuch as slate, marble, &c.and maybe a portion of a switchboard. 2 and '3 are massive copper terminal blocks secured upon the front face of the base 1 by means of the bolts 4 and 5, respectively, which are screw-threaded and held by the nuts 6 and 7 and serve also as electrical connections with the blocks 2 and 3. A laminated bridging member 8 is mechanically secured to but'electrically insulated from the arm 9, pivoted at 10 to the frame or housing 11, secured upon the base 1. The movable metallic shunt-contact 12 is carried upon the spring-support 13 and'adapted to engage the plate 14 in electrical commu- 2. The movable shunt-carbon 15 is pivoted at 16 to the conductin member 17, secured to but insulated from t e arm 9. A stationary shunt-carbon 18 is ivoted at 19 in the bracket 20, which is in e ectrical communication'with the upper main contact 2. The contact 12 and the carbon 15 communicate electricall with the lower main contact 3 by the fiexib e conductor 21. A link 22 is pivoted at one end at 23 to the arm 9 and at its other .end at 24 to the link 25. The latter link is pivoted to the frame or housing 11. at 26 and extends outwardly beyond said pivot in the portion constituting theoperators handle. The links 22 and 25 constitute a toggle for cramping the bridging member 8 into firm contact with the main terminals 2 and 3. i

As shown in Fig. 1, the parts are in circuit closing position, and the centerof the pivot24 falls slightly short of' the-imaginary straight line joining the centers of the pivots 23 and To lock the circuit-breaker closed, a hatch 27 is provided, pivoted to the housing or frame 11 at 28 and engaging the roller 29,

- pivoted at 30 to the extension 31 of the lever yond the pivot 28 and terminates in the tail nication with the upper main terminal block 27, which extends into the path of travel of the tail 32 of the armature-lever 32, pivoted to the housing 11 at 33. The lever 32 carries the armature 34, which cooperates with the iron core 34, inclosed by the lower main terminal 3 to constitute an electromagnet. An adj usting-screw 36, having the milled head 37, engages in the housing 11 and terminates at its upper portion in the screw36 of lesser diameter and greater number of threads per inch. The nut 36 is raised and lowered by turning the head 37; but its extent of vertical movement is less than that of the screw 36 because of the differential effect of the screws 36 and 36. The armature-lever 32 rests upon the nut 36 and is raised and lowered thereby, the nut being held against rotation by the pin 36 engaging loosely in a vertical slot in the housing 11. The sheet-metal member 38, secured at its one end to the housing 11, extends vertically downward therefrom and carries calibration-marks with which the disk 39 cooperates to indicate at what current the circuit breaker will be tripped: I

Pivoted concentrically with but independently from the latch 27 is the auxiliary tripping-lever 40, having the rearward extension 41 for engaging the under side of the housing 11 to limit the clockwise rotation of the lever as viewed in Fig. '1. Through the transversely-extending piece 42 extends the adjustable screw 43, which is adapted to engage the under side of the latch 27, said latch 27 beingmounted-between the lever 40 and its companion member 44, the portions 40 and 44 being joined by the piece 42. To each of the portions 40 and 44 are cast or otherwise secured the portions 45, terminating in-the cou ling-fianges 46. The lever 40 has on its un er side an'inclined surface 47, adapted to be engaged by the ratchet or dog '48, the latter pivoted to the extension 31, concentrically with but independently of the roller 29.

The dog 48 is bifurcated, as shown in Fig. 7,

one portion carrying the lip or extension 49,

adapted to engage the under side of the extension 31 to limit the travel of the dog 48 in g counter-clockwise direction as viewed in 1g. 1.

' dog 48 and hol s the same in the position shown in Fig. 1 and opposes its movement in a clockwise direction.

Referring to Fig. 8, three circuit-breakers similar to that shown in Fig, 1 are arranged upon the same base or switchboard. The

coupling-flanges 46 of the several levers 40 are mechanically secured to each other, but insulated from each other by the fiber or other insulating-disks 51. The result is that the levers 40 of all the circuit-breakers in bank or gang arrangement are mechanicall- 'secured together but insulated from eac other.

The operation is as follows: Suppose the about its pivot 28.

A sprin '50 engages the ratchet or current through any one of the cirouitbreak ers of the gang or bank reaches the predetermined value. Its armature 34 is attracted upwardly, causing the tail 32 of the lever 32 to strike upon the top of the tail 27 of the latch 27. This releases the latch 27 fromthe roller 29, thus permitting the toggle 22 25 to collapse under the influence of gravity, the bridge 8, and the effect of the springs 9 and 25 The bridging member then first breaks contact with-blocks 2 and 3, then 12 separates from 14, and, lastly, carbon 15 separates from carbon 18, where the final arc occurs. In its action the armature 34 of the circuitbreaker has been compelled to lift the latch 27 only. As the circuit-breaker starts to open, the extension 31 of the lever 25 rotates in a counter-clockwise direction about its pivot 26 as viewed in Fig. 1, and the dog 48 iscarried with the extension 31, being pivoted thereto. In so doing the dog 48 being prevented from yielding by its lip 49 slides along the inclined surface 47 of the lever 40, tilting the lever 40 in a counter-clockwise direction In so doing all the levers 40 of the other circuit-breakers are similarly rotated, due to the mechanicalconnections afforded by the coupling-flanges 46 and fiber disks 51. In all the circuit-breakers, therefore, the levers 40 are rotated, due to the opening movement of the one circuit-breaker, and each lever 40 raises its latch 27 through the medium of the screw 43 engaging upon the under. side thereof. In consequence all of the other circuit-breakers are tripped.

In resetting a circuit-breaker the operators lever 25 is pressed downwardly and the parts again brought to circuit-closing positidn,,the dog 48 yielding and rotating in a clockwise direction as it strikes the front end of the lever 40 and rides into position shown in Fig. 1 without lifting the lever 40. By this structure it is possible to reset any one of the bank or gang of circuit-breakers without tripping or interfering with the other circuitbreakers that may be in full circuit-closing position or in any other position. Similarly the automatic tripping of any one circuitbreaker of a bank will cause the mechanical tripping ofall of the others.

While I have illustrated and described an ordinary overload tripping mechanism, it 'is to be understood that myinvention is applicable also to circuit-breakers which. are tripped upon underload, low voltage, high voltage, or reversed-energy flow. It is to be understood also that the several circuitbreakers may be adapted to respond to diffrent conditions, that they may all'be-inhluded in the same circuit, or in separate and independent circuits.

- What I claim is 1. In combination, a plurality of electric switches, each comprising fixed and movable contacts and means for restraining said con-- ping means, and a member in each switch for tacts in normal position, and means actuated by the movable contact mechanism of any switch for actuating the. restraining means oi. the other switches.

2. In combination, a plurality of electric switches, each comprising fixedand movable contacts and means for restraining said contacts in normal position, a member in each switch for actuating its restraining means, means for interconnecting said members, and means for actuating said interconnected members by the movable contact mechanism of any switch.

3. In combination, a plurality of electric switches, each comprising fixed and movable contacts, means for restraining said contacts in normal position, and electroresponsive means for controlling said restraining means, a member in each switch for actuating its restraining means, means for interconnecting said members of all the switches, and means for actuating said interconnected members by the movable contact mechanism of any switch.

4. In combination, a plurality of electric switches, each comprising fixed and movable contacts, means for locking said contacts in normal position, and electroresponsive tripping means, amember in each switch adapted to actuate its locking means, means interconnecting said members of all the switches, and means associated with the movable contact member of each switch for actuating said interconnected members.

5. In combination, a plurality of electric switches, each comprising fixed and movable contacts, a latch for locking said contacts in normal position, and electroresponsive tripactuating its latch independently of said tripping means, means interconnecting said members of all the switches, and means associated with the movable contact member of each switch for actuating said interconnected members, whereby when any one switch is tripped all the other switches are tri ped.

6. In combination, a plurality o electric switches, each comprising fixed andmovable contacts and a latch for restraining said contacts in normal position, a latch-actuating member in each switch, a member interconnecting said latch-actuating members, and means associated with the movable'contact member of each switch for actuating said interconnected members.

7. In combination, a plurality of electric switches, each comprising fixed and movable contacts and means for restraining said contacts in normal position, a member in each switch for actuating its restraining means, and means associated with the movable contact member of each switch for actuating said member, and means interconnecting said members of all the switches, whereby the movement of any movable'contact to ab-.

normal position will actuate the restraining means of all the switches.

8. In combination, a plurality of electric switches, each comprising a movable contact member, an actuator therefor, and means for locking said actuator in normal position, a member in each switch for actuating its locking means, means for interconnecting said members, and a ratchet on each actuator for actuating said interconnected members, whereby when one switch is tripped all are tripped and may be independently reset.

' -9. In combination, a plurality of electrical switches, each comprising a movable contact member, an actuator therefor, means for lockingsaid actuator in normal position, and electroresponsive tripping means, a member in each switch adapted to actuate its locking means, means interconnecting said members of all the switches, a ratchet on the actuator of each switch for actuating said interconnected members, whereby when any one switch is electrically tripped all the others are tripped by energy derived from the movement of the switch electrically tripped.

10. In combination, a plurality. of electric switches, each comprising a movable contact member, means for locking said contact member in normal position, and-electroresponsive tripping means, a member in each switch for actuatmg its locking means, means interconnecting said I members of all the switches, and means in each switch for transmitting to said interconnected members en ergy derived from the movement'of the movable contact member of any switch.

11. In combination, a plurality of electric switches, each comprising a movable contact member, means for locking said contact member in normal position, and electroresponsive tripping means, a member in each switch adapted to actuate its locking means, means interconnecting said members of all the switches, and means in each switch adapted to transmit to said interconnected members energy derived fromthe movement of the mbvable contact member of any switch and independently of its electroresponsive tripping means.

12. In combination, a plurality-of automatic circuit-breakers, each including electroresponsive tripping means, a member in each circuit-breaker adapted to trip it inde- 'pendently of its electroresponsive .means,

means'for interconnecting sai members of 'all the circuit-breakers, and means associated 'with the movable contact member of each circuit-breaker adapted to actuate said interconnected members. 7

13. In combination, a plurality of automatic circuit-breakers, each including electroresponsive tri ping means, a member in each vcircuit-brea er adapted to trip it independently of its electroresponsive means,

.means interconnecting said membersof all ISO the circuit-breakers, and means for transmitting to said interconnected members energy derived from the opening movement of any circuit-breaker.

14. In combination, a plurality of automatic circuit-breakers, each including electroresponsive tripping means, a member in each circuit-breaker adapted to trip it inde pendently of its electroresponsive means, means interconnecting said members of all the circuitbreakers, and a ratchet on the operating member of each circuit-breaker for actuatmg said interconnected members, whereby when one circuit-breaker opens all are tripped and may be independently reset.

15. In. combination, a plurality of electrical switches, each comprising fixed and movable contacts, a latch for restraining said contacts in normal position, and electroresponsive meansfor actuating said latch, and an independent member in each switch adapted to actuate said latch, means for interconnecting said members of all the switches, and

. means associated with the movable contact said latch, means for member of each switch adapted to actuate said independent member, whereby when any one switch is electrically tripped all of the other switches will be tripped by energy derived from the movement of the movable contact member of the switch electrically tripped.

i 16. In combination, a plurality of electrical switches, each comprising a movable contact member a latch for restraining said contact member in normal position and electroresponsive means for controllingsaid latch, and an independent member adapted to actuate said latch, means for interconnecting said independent members of all the switches, and a ratchet member associated with, the movable contact member of each switch for actuating said interconnected members, whereby when one switch is electrically tripped all are tripped and may be independ ently reset.

1.7. In. combination, a plurality of electrical switches, each comprising amovable contact member, a latch for lockingsaid contact member in normal position, an independent member in each switch for controlling interconnecting said members of the difierent switches, and a ratchet associated with the movable contact member of each switch for actuating said in.- terconnected members, whereby when one switch is tripped all are tripped and may be im A dependently reset.

18. In combination, a plurality of electrical switches, each comprising a movable contact member, means for restraining said contact member in normal position, and an independent member in each switch for controlling said restraining means, means forinterconnecting said independent members of all the switches, and electroresponsive means in one of the switches for controlling the restraining means of that switch, whereby when that switch is electrically tripped all of said switches are tripped.

19. In combination, a plurality of electrical switches, each comprising a movable contact member, means for restraining said contact member'in normal position, and an independent member adapted to control said restraining means, and means associated with the movable contact member to actuate said independent member by energy derived from the movement of said movable contact mem ber, means for interconnecting the independent members of all the switches, and electroresponsive means in one of the switches for controlling its restraining means, whereby when that switch is electrically tripped all of the switches are tripped and may be independently reset.

20. In combination, a plurality of elec trical switches, each comprising a movable contact member, means for restraining said contact member in normal position, and an independent member for controlling said restraining means, a ratchet associated with the movable contact member for actuating said independent membenmeans for interconnecting the independent members of all the switches, and electroresponsive meansin one of the switches for controlling its restraining means, whereby when that switchis electrically tripped all others are tripped by energy derived from the movement of the movable contact member of the electricallytripped switch and may be reset independently of each other.

21. In combination, a plurality of electric switches, each comprising fixed and movable contacts and means for restraining said contacts in normal position, means commonto all the switches for actuating their restraining means, and means for transmitting to said actuating means energy derived from the opening movement of any switch.

' WALTER S. MAYER.

Witnesses:

CLARENCE M. BROWN, Anion S. Mensa. 

